Michigan's state Senate and House passed a smoking ban that will make indoor smoking illegal, save for gambling areas, cigar bars and cigar shops. The measure, HB 4377, passed by a vote of 24 to 13 in the Senate and was overwhelmingly approved by the House in a vote of 75 to 30.

The legislation will become law when Gov. Jennifer Granholm signs it; she has come out in favor of such legislation, according to press reports from Michigan. The law will go into effect May 1.

Exemptions to the legislation include cigar bars, tobacco stores and casinos. A smoking ban had been in the works for years. "The bill was a product of compromise and support from several different major entities in the state, including the casino and health lobby, and the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers association and the Cigar Association of America," said Chris McCalla, legislative director of the IPCPR. "The bill also had the support of most IPCPR retailers in the state. Without this compromise bill, we would have most likely faced a difficult, costly, and likely loss in fighting a no-exemptions smoking ban bill that would have gone to a ballot vote in 2010."

...meanwhile, Michigan is sliding deeper in to recession, there is corruption at every level, businesses are fleeing in droves - good to know that the Michigan Legislature has their priorities in order. :D

5
posted on 12/11/2009 2:14:30 PM PST
by Tzimisce
(No thanks. We have enough government already. - The Tick)

They can't help you get a job but they can make sure you don't smoke while you're searching for a way to meet your bills. Nice. Liberals can always find a straw man to beat up and fool their dim witted voters into believing they are actually doing something.

To request that I stop using these gay html colors and fonts, please send me a private message below.

____________________________________________________________________

Constitution of the Left Wing Nanny State of Liberals:

Picture courtesy of unixfox. All rights reserved. Copyright MMVII. Any use of the pictures descriptions or accounts of this ping without the express written consent of unixfox, Eric Blair, or Major League Baseball is strictly prohibited. Some restrictions apply. Ping not available in all states. For erections lasting longer than four hours, call the Guiness Book of World Records. Use only as directed.

Preamble:

We the People Sheeple of the United States Nanny State, in Order to form a more perfect Union Socialist Utopia, establish Justice Socially engineer a country of non smoking, physically fit, seat belt and helmet wearing teetotalers, ensure domestic Tranquility Smoking bans in bars, limits on unhealthy food and social drinking, provide for the common defense Universal Healthcare, promote the general Welfare health of the population whether they like it or not, in order to save above mentioned Universal Healthcare entitlement program from bankruptcy, and secure the Blessings of Liberty Dependency to ourselves progressive liberals and our Posterity Hitler Youth who we brainwash through public school education, do ordain decree and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Nanny State of Liberals.

14
posted on 12/11/2009 4:08:31 PM PST
by Eric Blair 2084
(The "Military-Industrial Complex" is so 1940s. Now BEWARE the Government-Academia-Media Complex.)

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The ban takes effect in May and applies to all bars, restaurants and workplaces, except for cigar bars, tobacco specialty stores, home offices, motor vehicles and three Detroit casinos.
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Isn’t it great?!
The Government didn’t pass a ban in HOME OFFICES and PRIVATE motor vehicles! - Aren’t they swell/sarc

That article was written on the 10th - those two potential ‘private domain’ ban areas have been scrubbed by the press in further articles.(don’t let the cat out of the bag on their full intentions)

They are really looking out for the best interest of all Americans/ huge sarc.

Just wait until the government starts regulating water and CO2......never mind.......I wonder what’s on TV tonight?

16
posted on 12/11/2009 4:58:45 PM PST
by libertarian27
(Land of the FEE, home of the SHAMED)

So where does this leave private property owners like home owners? I just don’t understand why government would impose a smoking ban and then expect to get even more tax money from the use of tobacco. Maybe I’m just to dense to “get it.”

If the elitist DemocRats in government succeed in taking over healthcare, they’ll be taxing and then outlawing anything and everything that ‘they consider’ to be unhealthy....even while they continue to indulge in whatever their black hearts please. Wait till they ban alcohol sales. They’ve already demonized trans-fats and made the fast-food industry lick their jackboots. It will never end. Unless we end it.

If the elitist DemocRats in government succeed in taking over healthcare, they'll be taxing and then outlawing anything and everything that 'they consider' to be unhealthy...

I think they'll keep tobacco, liquor, greasy, fast food etc. legal and just refuse to give those people who indulge any health care. That way they can still collect the tax money on those products and SAVE money by only providing health care to people who "deserve" it.

And I am only being half-way sarcastic about that. I truly am that cynical.

Ok, here is the trick.. one has to PROVE I smoked in it.. I know the normal line here is “You can always tell” but a coat of paint and a few other tricks, no one is the wiser. Most people have no idea I smoke at home.. then again I am a neat freak, nothing gets dirty here.

That or “The previous owner smoked in it”

Besides, selling my house has nothing to do with smoking in my OWN home office.

Besides, selling my house has nothing to do with smoking in my OWN home office.

Sure is does.....Someone somewhere will figure out a way to ban smoking in homes, they are already doing it in apartments and condos. Smokers are not allowed to foster children in the UK in many areas.

With the advent of the dreaded [3rd hand smoke] they will figure out a way to gain taxation/fees in order for anyone to sell their house who may have smoked in it.

Some 'level of exposure' will be found and a consensus formed, the molecules will need to be excised for a fee and a certification given.(Think asbestos and lead;treated and tented homes before re-sale for smoke extraction). You may not sell your house otherwise.

Private business owners have bowed to the government, why would us private home owners think we have more rights then them?

We are all equal - the playing fields will be leveled. :(

32
posted on 12/12/2009 7:07:47 AM PST
by libertarian27
(Land of the FEE, home of the SHAMED)

“How could you possibly afford a pack a week? I’d be living on an off-ramp with that expense.”

It’s easier to go from two packs a week to just one than it would be to go from two packs a day down to one pack a day.
Cost reduction being the main case for the former with health issues and cost being the main cases for the latter. If you’re smoking two packs a day, the issue becomes the overall monetary cost plus the inevitable health risks.

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